Boot-cleaning device.



No. 649,335. Patented May 8, 1900. N. D. MOORE 81. J. HILL.

BOOT CLEANING DEVICE.

(Applicafion filed Jan. 16, 1900.

(No Model.)

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iii}? UruTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATT DENT MOORE AND JOSEPH HILL, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

BOOT-CLEANING DEVICE.

srncrrrcarloiv forming art of Letters Patent No. 649,335, dated May s, 1960.

Application filed January 16,1900. Serial No. 1,668. (No model;)

T0 (0% whom it may concern: Be itknown that We,NAT'1 DENT MOORE and JOSEPH HILL, citizens of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boot and Shoe Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a boot and shoe cleaning device, and has for its object to combine with an inclosing casing or holder a mat and scraper, the arrangement being such that the mat is normally inclosed by the casing or holder and protected from the weather; but when the scraper is used to remove mud and dirt from the boot or shoe it operates to automatically move the mat into operative position and hold it there until the user has stepped off the mat, whereupon the latter is returned to its position into the casing and shakes off and discharges the accumulated mud and dirt into a removable pan or tray.

To this end our invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is a central vertical section. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the casing open.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the holder or casing, comprising a box-like structure, in the bottom of which is arranged a removable tray The casing is provided with an aperture 3, occupying practically the entire front thereof. Hinged to the bottom of the front of the casing is a door or platform 1, which when it is in an upright position completely closes the aperture 3 and at its edges overlaps and bears against the front edges of the casing. Attached in any suitable manner to the inner side of the door or platform is a door-mat 5 of any well-known orpreferred construction. Fixed to the lower edge of the door 1 and at a right angle thereto is an arm 6, the outer end of which projects into the casing, and attached thereto is a weight 7, the weighted arm operating to hold the door elevated or closed. A bent spring 8 is attached at its inner end to the top of the casing and at its free or outer end projects down into the path of the weighted arm 6, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The numeral 13 indicates a lever which is pivoted intermediate its ends to the inner side of one of the sides of the casing and at its outer end is notched or beveled to form a catch or detent 15, which. is adapted to engage a projection or abutment l6, fixed to the inner side of the door 4, at one edge and near the bottom of the latter. To the inner end of the lever 13 is fixed a weight 14, Whichoperates to normally hold the outer end of the lever elevated, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Formed in the side of the casing is an aperture 9, and to the inner side of said casing and on each side of the aperture are fixed strips 10, between which and the side of the casing a scraper-blade 11 is adapted to reciprocate. Pendent from the scraper-blade is a vertical arm 12, thelower end of which is pivoted to the lever 13. The tray 2 may be inserted in and removed from the casing in manner similar to an ordinary drawer.

The operation of the device is as follows: Let it be assumed that the parts are in their normal position, in which position the door or platform carrying the mat is held vertically against the front of the casing by the weighted arm 6. When one wishes to clean his shoes or boots, he first introduces his foot into the aperture 9 and draws it over the scraper-blade 11 in the usual manner and by this action depresses the outer end of the latch-lever 13. As the outer beveled end of the latch-lever bears against the door or platform carrying the mat, said door or platform is swung downwardly and outwardly until the latch engages the rear or under side of the catch 16 on the door or platform and holds the latter in position to be used as a mat. After having scraped off the mud or dirt from his boots or shoes the user steps upon the mat and brushes off his boots or shoes in the usual manner. The weight of the one stepping upon the mat will cause the latch end of the latch-lever 13 to disengage the catch 16 and restore the latch-lever to its normal position. When the user steps off the mat, the spring 8 operates to impart to the arm 6 an initial backward or inward movement, and the weight 7 completes this movement and holds the door or platform in its .claim is 1. In a boot and shoe cleaning device, the combination with a casing, of a mat adapted to be thrown in and out of the casing,a scraper, and means operated by the scraper for throwing the mat into operative position, substantially as described.

2. In a boot and shoe cleaning device, the combination with a casin g, of a mat arranged to be thrown into and out of the casing, a scraper, and means operated by the scraper for throwing the mat into operative position, and means for retracting the mat into the easing, substantially as described.

3. In aboot and shoe cleaning device, the

combination with a casing, of a hinged door, a mat carried by the door, a scraper, and means operated by the scraper for turning the door upon its hinges to throwthe mat into and out of operative position, substantially as described. 4. In a boot and shoe cleaning device, the combination with a casing, of a platform hinged to one side thereof, a mat carried by the platform, a scraper,,mean's operated by the scraper for swinging the platform away from the casing, and a weighted arm operating to return the platform to its normal position, substantially as described.

5. In a boot and shoe cleaning device, the combination with a casing, of a platform hinged to one side thereof, a mat carried by the platform, a scraper, means operated by the scraper for swinging the platform away from the casing, a weighted arm attached to the platform and operating to return it to its normal position, and a spring arranged to be placed under tension by the weighted arm when the platform is swung away from the casing and operating to impel the platform to its closing position, substantially as described.

6. In a boot and shoe cleaning device, the combination with a casing, of a platform hinged at its lower end to the lower portion of the casin g, means for normally holding the platform closed against the casing, a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to one side of the casing, said lever being arranged to engage at one end the platform and weighted at its other end, and a vertically-movable scraper pivotally connected to said lever and operating when depressed to swing the outer end of the lever against the hinged platform and throw the latter outward and downward, substantially as described.

7. In a boot and shoe cleaning device, the combination with a casing, a mat adapted to be swung in and out of the casing, a removable tray arranged in the bottom of the casing, a scraper, means operated by the scraper for swinging the mat into operative position, and means for returning the mat to its normal position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set WILLIAM L. BARRETT, J. H. MCTIGUE. 

